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Frances Tiafoe acknowledged Roger Federer's astonishing impact on the game and added there will never be another Federer. Federer, 41, was considered the ultimate tennis icon and many credit the Swiss for elevating tennis to a new level and making the game more popular.
“I mean, the impact he had on the game is wild. I mean, we are always going to remember Roger Federer. 'Cause there will never be another one. No one’s going to play the game like he did. No one’s going to carry themselves like he did.
He never sweated, he never had a wrinkle on his shirt. I’m happy I got to play against him. I’m happy I got to call him a friend," Tiafoe said on the ATP Tennis Radio Podcast.
Tiafoe on playing Federer in the Swiss' final match
In late September, Federer retired from pro tennis at the Laver Cup.
In the final match of his career, Federer teamed up with Rafael Nadal. In London, Federer and Nadal took on Tiafoe and Jack Sock. Tiafoe and Sock, who were representing Team World at the Laver Cup, defeated Federer and Nadal 4-6 7-6 (2) 11-9.
“To play against them, even if one of then weren’t retiring, to play against them together is iconic, and as Fed’s last match. So, that’s even more iconic, and the crowd is going wild,” Tiafoe reflected.
While Federer and Nadal were playing their match, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray were supporting them from the Team Europe bench. After Federer's career officially came to an end, the Swiss and his biggest rivals all became emotional.
“The kids came down and everybody, the wifey came down, I mean everybody was crying – Novak, Rafa and Murray, I was like, ‘Ah, damn!’. You’ve got to think. I mean, these are the guys that played against him.
The biggest rivals ever. They’re crying and I was like, ‘Oh man! This is crazy,’” Tiafoe said.